Motor vehicle



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w," @75m v www Feb. 13, 1940. F. c. BEST Mo'roRVEHICLE- Filed oct. 29. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W w Wm/ @.0 e@ 0 G z/IO ,O,O .C 4 G` 6 2%* f w @w @3M am Mq 52770741/ Patented Feb; 13, 1940lUNITED STATES iwljlf:NTA our# wennl Moron VEHICLE j] nmcassenezmiamcmsmmorto mms Y f Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Anuman october a9, 1931, sensi Nc. 111,793

U11 claims. (c1. aas-rt)I This invention relates to improvements inmotor vehicles and is more particularly con` cerned with vehicle bodyconstruction. It is the principal object of the invention toprovide amotor vehicle body which is characterized by extreme lightnessandsturdiness, which is relatively inexpensive to construct and easilyassembled, and which is so formed as to render the moving parts of the-vehicle and the driving mechanism therefor readily accessible forrepair and replacement. A

It is a feature of the invention thatthe more rigid frame elements ofthe body construction are utilized as part of theexterior of the body,

'l l5 the relatively thin panel sections which ordinarily form theentire exterior or skin of the butt-welded to such frame elements so asto lie nush with the exterior surfaces of the latter and to'fonn ineffect contlnuationsY of such surfaces. A -v More speciiicallypit is anobject of the invention to provide a vehicle body having longitudinallyextending rigid frame elements defining the exterior surfaces of thebody; these frame elements extending along the sides of the roof and.floor of the body and being rigidly united by upstanding pillars and aminimum number of structural reinforcing members in such manner'as toanord maximum resistance to weaving oi' the body as the result `oftorsionall `stresses applied thereto and to deformation of the body inthe event of collision. f y' t Further objects and features of theinvention will be apparent from the following description 5 taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a vehicleillustrating the application of the principles ofthe invention thereto:

Figure 2 is s lcnguuainn sections viss` maken` o substantially on theline 2-2 of Figure i; n

- Figure 31s a sectional perspective view of the forward end of thevehicle shown in Figure l: t

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional viewtaken substantially on theline(-4 oi' Figurez;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line5 5 of Figure l; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic perspective viewillustrating the relation of the principal elements attherearofthebody.-Y .Y

l It will be noted by reference ,to the drawings that the invention hasbeen illustrated as ap-l plied to a'vehicle bodyvof such shape as'tooii'er Vrnirlimui'n wind resistance, to which form of i body theinvention readily lends fiii-Belt; It will nevertheless be appreciatedthat certain features of the. invention are applicable tow'ldely diversetypes of vehicle It will further lunderstood that whilespecificlanguageia 'ein` ployed herein to describe the embodiment oi the5 invention selected for the purpose of illustration, no limitation ofthe scope of the invention `is thereby intended, various furthermodiiications and alterations being contemplated such .as would occur toone skilled in the art to which 10 the invention relates. j Y i I jReferring first to the contour of the body as .illustratedin Figures1.and2, it will be noted that the forward end of the vehicle is formedto provide a roundedand generally bmntxnos 15 "'which is somewhatdepressed to reduce air lift .f

and consequently induced drag. The cross-sec- 1 tional area of the bodyreaches its maximum Y value at a point somewhat forwardof the mid Ylength of the vehicle, and the downward `slope 20 of the body rooftoward the rear of the vehicle Y is as small as possibleconsistent-.with standard requirements of vover-all length. In Aorderthat smooth air ilow may be maintained over the extreme rear of thebodythe vehicle tail is shaped g5 to provide fins' at either sidethereof which are so constructed and positioned as to suppress. air flowseperation over the tail. The underside of the vehicle is substantiallyfiatfand the entire body is enclosed by substantially continuous and 30smoothly curving -surfaces which are interrupted only to the extentnecessary to accommodate thev vehicle road wheels. A The precise contourof the` body forms no part of the instant invention except insofar asthe inventive features outlined 35 hereinafter serve to form and rigidlysupport this body and to minimize the? weight and increase thesturdiness thereof. n

The sides' of the floor or bottom of the body are deiined bylongitudinally extending f rame 40 elements it which may be convenientlyreferred to as longrons, the cross-sectional contour Yof these elementsthroughout the major portion of their length being indicated moreparticularly in Figure 5. Each of the elements I0 extendspref- 45 erablyfrom a point immediately at the fear of the front road wheels Il of thevehicle to a point at the extreme rear of the vehicle. being disposed Loutside of and vextending across the face ofthe .ter terminatingat`theiry` forward ends adjacent the upper edge of the windshield Il andhaving their rearward-endsV extendedtowtne rear of the 5g ing betweenthe longrons I 0 and secured thereto area plurality of cross framemembers 29, one member 29 being associated with and preferablyadditionally secured to each pair of oppositely disposed pillars I1. Themembers may be relatively light in weight, and with this end in view maybe apertured as shown in Figure 5, these members being preferablygenerally U-shaped in section with the flanges constituting the legsthereof disposed substantially horizotally. l

Figure 5 alsoshows one method of securing the members 20 to the longronsI9 and to the pillar I1. Thus each member 28 may be secured to lthelongrons by rivets 24 passing through the longrons and lower iiange ofthe member, and by rivets 25 passing through the upper ilange of themember, through an inwardly directed flange 28 formed at the upper endof the longron and a flange 21 formed at the lower end of the associatedpillar I1. The upper ilange of each memberv 20 may be further,secured'to the liiange 21 of the pillar as indicated atV 28. At itsVupper edge each pillar` I1 is provided with a flange '38 which may bespotwelded as indicated at 3l to the adjacent longr'on I5 and lrivetedthereto as indicated YExtending 'between and butt-welded 'to the loweredges vof the longrons I9 is a bottom panel 35 and? similarlyextending'between and butt-weldedv to the longrons I5 is a roof 4panel36.` 'In the rear section of the passenger or lading' compartment andaft of the doors I9, the side panels 38 are provided, these panels beinglikewise butt-welded at their upper and lower. edges to the longrons I5and I0. It will be observed that by means of this construction the outersurfaces of the longrons I0 andY l5 constitute a part of the externalbody surface of the vehicle; the simplicity, lightness, and sturdinessof the resulting structure will be apparent.

With the exception of the transverse structural member 40, which extendsacross the forward end of the body immediately forward of the roadwheels II, the entire body structure l in front of the door I8 and theforemost pillars vindicated at 4 I I1 may be formed of the relativelythin sheet metal which is commonly used for exterior vehicle panels.Thus, as shown more particularly in Figure 3, a single piece of sheetmetal 42 may be bent to form the instrument panel 43 and the dash 44,this member extending between the lower edge of the windshield I6 andthe transverse member, being welded to the latter as A suitable wheelhousing 48 maybe formed integral with orl rigidly secured to the member'42, and the space above the member 42 and intermediate the wheelhousings 48 at either side of the vehicle may serve n as a luggagecompartment which is accessible f through a door 49 provided in anopening Ain the exterior panel 5,9 which formsV the blunt rounded nosekof the body. The panel 55 may be secured by welding at its upper edgeto the upper portion of the member 42 at the juncture of the latter'with the Windshield I8 and may` extend downwardly along the side of theve- 'and the lateral edge of the dash 44. The bottom panel 95, whichcloses the underside of the body, is welded to the transverse member 40as indicated at 52 and preferably extends to thel rear of the passengeror lading compart-v ment. A suitable ilooring is provided interiorly ofthe vehicle, and if desired this flooring may be constituted by a singlesheet metal member 54, :securedv at intervals to the inwardly directediianges 28 of the longrons I0 as indicated at 55 by riveting or in anyother convenient manner. The flooringA may extend to the extreme rear ofthe passenger or lading compartment and may be deflected upwardly at itsforward end as indicated at 51 to form a toeboard which is secured as bywelding at 58 to the dash 44. To facilitate illustration, this ilooringis omitted from Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

At the rear of the passenger or lading compartment is a transverse sheetmetal member A further cross frame member 83-extends between and issecured to the longrons I0 at the rear end of the vehicle and aft of therear road wheels, and an X-brace structure indicated generallyv at 81extends diagonally upward from the points of juncture of the cross framemember 89 with the longrons I0, the upper ends of the X-brace memberbeing secured in any convenient manner to the ilre wall adjacent thepoints of connection of this wall to the longrons I5.

vIt will be observed that this X-brace structure 81 aords greatlyincreased resistance to torsional stresses at the rear of the vehicle,serves to carry the roof load directly downwardly to the longrons I9,and at the -same time aiords adequate clearance to perxii'i't the roadwheels I2 to rise and fall as the vehicle moves over an irregular roadbed. With the exception of the structural elements just described, theentire exterior of the body rearwardly of the wall 80 is formed of thinsheet metal paneling constituting an extension of the side panels 38here.

inbefore referred to, this paneling being shaped so as to provide theupstanding fins 89 at each side of the vehicle. ii desired, in order tofacilitate the stamping of the panel structure or skin 'at'the rear ofthe vehicle, this may be formed moans-r 3 as to form a smoothcontinuation of the, adjacent portions of the panel 38. it beingobserved that the lower edge of the cover plates 1l. rest on andaresupported by the adjacent portions 5 of the longrons I0. When it isdesired to remove one ofthe wheels I2 for -tire vreplacement or repair,the adjacent-'cover plate 14 is removed, and the wheel may then bewithdrawn through the opening thus affordedv as indicated y in dottedlines in Figure 4. By continuing` the longrons I0 past the rear wheelsI2 in a substantially straight line, weakening of the frame at thispoint is avoided and a much' lighter structure can be employed toprovide the necessary rigidity' than if these longrons were de- Again..

iiected inwardly or over thek wheels..

these longrons serve the function of side bumpers to protect the rearwheels from damage in the event oi collision without interfering withsmooth air flow laterally vof and at lthe rear of the vehicle.

A power plant comprising 'a transversely disposed engine 16 and suitabletransmission gear-- ing 'I1 disposed rearwardly thereof is supportedintermediate'the rear wheels I2 Vand is suitably connected with atransverse rear axle within an axle housing 19 to drive the wheels. Thehousings for the motor and transmission gearing are secured together toconstitute a rigid unit i and this unit may extend between and besupported upon the cross frame members 82 and 83 as shown moreparticularly in Figure 2 of the drawings. It will be observed that byreason of the absence directly beneath the power plant of A anystructural members, access may be had thereto from beneath by theremoval of a flooring 82, which may be readily detachable and whichextends between the members 62 and 63 and between the road wheels I2.Access to the power plant from above can be had, if desired, through adoor B4 `inthe tail of the body. The road wheels I2 may be yieldinglysupported for rising and falling movement in any convenient manner. Forexample, the axle housings and 4g vaxles may be provided with universaljoint connections as at 85, to permit swinging movement thereof, andleaf springs 86, connected to the axle housings, may extend between andbe suitably shackied to the cross frame members 62V l.o exposed surfacesforming a part of the body exterior, of means extending between certainof said structural members and affording continuations of said exposedsurfaces, structural members extending transversely of said body andsecured to the lower of said longitudinally extending structuralmembers, and upstanding pillars at each side of said body extendingbetween and secured to the adjacent upper and lower longitudinallyextending structural members.

'fo 2. In a motor vehicle body, the combination with longitudinallyextending structural members disposed adjacent the upper and lowerportions of the body sides, said members having exposed surfaces forminga part of the body exll terior, of means extending between certain ofsaid structural members and affording continuations of said exposedsurfaces, structural msmbers extending .transversely of said and securedto the lower of said longitudinally 'extending structural members.upstanding pillars` i5 at each side of said body extending between andrsecured to the adjacent upper and lower'longitudinally extendingstructural members, `ami doors carried by said body, said doors] `beinghingedlysupported on certain .of saidpillars. I 10 4disposed ,adjacentto and directly laterally of.

the latter.

4. A motor vehicle-having a body and means go including front and rearroad wheels supporting the body, said body including integral structuralmembers extending longitudinally of the major portion of said body, andthe rear portion of said structural members extending aft of said g5rear road wheels and being disposed adjacent to and directly laterallyof the latter, panel means supported by and extending upwardly from saidmembers to form the sides of said body, said panel means being providedwith openings adja- 30 cent said rear wheels of sufficient dimensions topermit the removal of said rear wheels through said openings and oversaid structural members..l

5; A motor vehicle having a body and means including front and rear roadwheels supporting 35 the body,.said body including generally straight,integral structural members extending longitudinally of the maiorportion of said body, and the rear portion of said structural membersextend- Y ing aft of said rear road wheels and being disposed adjacentto and directly laterally of the latter, panel means supported by andextending upwardly from said members to form tlie sides of said body,said panel means being provided with openings adjacentsaid rear.wheelsof suili- 5 cient dimensions to permit the removal of said rearwheels through said openings and over said structural members, andremovable closure' means for said openings. o

6. In a motor vehicle body, the combination w with longitudinallyextending structural members disposed adjacent the upper and lowerportions ofthe 'sides of said body, of X-brace means including a pair ofgenerally straight structural elementsf each of said elements extendingbe- 55 tween an'd secured to the upper of said members at one side ofthe body and the lower of said members at the other side of the body.

'1. In a motor vehicle body, the combination with longitudinallyextending structural mem- .o bers disposed adjacent the upper and lowerpor- V 'tions of the sides of said body, of X-brace means including apair of generally straight structural elements. each of said --elementsextending between and secured to the upper of said members .5 at oneside of the body and the lower of said members at the other side ofthebody, Said elements deiining a plane inclined to the vertical and beingunited adjacent the mid-portions members extending rearwardly beyond theupper u y and X-brace means extending between the rearward ends of theupper and lower members, said X-brace means being disposed beneath saidroof.

9. `A vehicle body having a downwardly slopi ing rear roof portion,means associated with said rear roof portion to define beneath thelatter a substantially closed chamber, a power propulsion unit` disposedwithin said chamber, rear road wheels extending within said chamber, andX- brace 'means extending between opposite sides of said rear-'roofportion and disposed above said power plant and rear wheels.

10. Amotor vehicle body including atV the forward end thereof a'sheetmetal member formed to providea dash and instrument panel, and a secondsheet metal member secured to said first memberand extending rearwardlytherefrom to provide a portion of the floor of said body.

11. In a motor vehicle body, the combination with longitudinallyextending structural members of metal disposed adjacent theY upperportions of the sides of the body and designed to carry the principalportion'of the roo! load, said members having exposed surfaces forming apart of the body exterior, of means forming a roof extending between andsupported principally by said members, said means including a sheetmetal panel butt-weldedto said members and affording a continuation ofsaid surfaces, the body sides constituting sheet metal panels buttweldedto the lower edges of said members.

FRANK C. BEST.

